Egg or fruit case.



`Nn. 720,206.- PATBNTED FEB. l0, 1903.

, W. WILSON.

EGG 0R FRUIT CASE. APPLIoATIoN FILED APR. 2e, 1901.

'l0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

` WILLIAM WILSON, OF LONDON, CANADA.

EGG OR FRUIT CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters :Patent No. 720,206, datedFebruary 10, 1903. Application filed April 26, 1901. Serial No. 58.403.(No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WILSON, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, and a resident of the city of London, in the county ofMiddlesex, in the .Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Egg or Fruit Cases, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to egg or fruit cases; and it consists ofimprovements on United States Patent No. 624,598, granted to me May 9,1899. The essential features of these improvements will be more fullyhereinafter described and claimed.

The object of this invention is to simplify the construction andarrangement of parts in such a manner as to render the device lessexpensive to manufacture, extend its scope and usefulness,and stillsustain an equal if notgreater efficiency.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, whereiny Y Figure 1 is aperspective view of an egg or fruit case embodying my invention. Fig. 2is another viewof same, showing the front of the case and cell-holdersremoved. Fig.r3 is another view of same, showing the top, front,

and one side of the case removed. Fig. 4 isY another similar view tothat shown in Fig. 3, illustrating a modification in the construetion ofsaid case and cell-holders. ,Fig 5 is a detail perspective view of oneof the cellholders. In this view the front and top of the holder areremoved. Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a modification in theconstruction of the cell-holder. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view ofone of the trays and cells of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is another perspective viewof a cell-holder, showing separate and independent cells. Fig. 9 is afront view of a portion of the .case and one of the cell-holders. Inthis View a flange on the cell-holder is held in place in a groove inthe case. Fig. 10 lis another similar view of same, illustrating amodification in the construction of said cell-holder and case.

In the accompanying'drawings the numeral ldesignates the outer inclosingand protecting case of the egg or fruit package, and 2 designatesvertical grooves formed in two op posite sides of said case and.extending upward completely through the top, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

The numeral 3 designates a removable front provided at its opposite endswith the iianges 4, which are fitted to clasp two opposite sides of thecase l, and said flanges are provided with the internally-projectingshoulders 5, which are fitted to the grooves in the case l, and thewidth of said flanges 4 is equal to the distance that the grooves 2 areformed in the case 1 from the front side thereof, so that by placing theremovable front 3 above and in line with the front of the case theshoulders 5 will be adjusted in a vertical line above the grooves 2.When so adjusted, by lowering said front 3 until it rests on theprojection 6, extending outward from the bottom 6, the front 8 of thecase will be closed, and the frictional contact of said shoulders 5 andof said flanges 4 binding on the two opposite sides of the case 1throughout the wholey of their length will securely hold said front inplace and avoid and completely prevent its accidental displacement andthe sides of the case 1 from springing or spreading outward. Again, bysimply sliding the front upward it may be removed. This provides aninexpensive' and efiicient removable front for the case, that can bereadily, easily, and instantly removed and placed in position.

The numeral 7 designates a holder in which two or more series of cellsor fillers 8 are safely held, and each holder is provided with a foldingcover 70, as shown in Fig. 6, and said cells or fillers may be joinedtogether, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, or formed separate, as shown inFig. 8, and with or without a bottom, as preferred.'

The numeral 9 designates a sheetof cardboard or veneer, which is placedhorizontally between and separates one tier of cells 8 from the other,and if four series of cells were Vplaced in one holder it would bepreferable to place a vertical division of cardboard or veneer betweeneach pair of cells in addition to the horizontal sheet between each tierof cells. In Fig. 7 the sheet of cardboard or veneer 9 is shown providedwith vertical sides and ends,'forming a tray9l shallower than the cells8.

The numeral 10 designates a cord or flexible band which extends aroundthe cellholder 7 to hold its cover tightly in place and t0 provide ameans for carrying same, if required.

The numeral 11 designates rubber buffers secured to the cell-holder 7and in such a position as to be interposed between said holder 7 and thecase 1 when the former is placed in the latter, on which buffers anystrain or jar to which the outer case 1 may be subjected is expendedbefore injuriously aecting said holders 7, cells 8, or their contents.

The numeral 7 designates projections formed on two opposite ends of theholder 7, as shown particularly in Fig. 5, Which projections are fittedto and slide into the internal grooves 12 of the case 1, as shown inFigs. 2, 3, and 9.

In Fig. 10 a modification is shown in which a iiange or projection 13 isformed on the interior of the case 1, and in this view the cellholders 7are formed without the projection 7; but in this modification saidcell-holders 7 may be formed with or without said end projections, aspreferred.

In the case of small fruit the quart or twoquart boxes of fruit may befitted to and placed in cells or fillers made especially for them and towhich the outside of the quart or two-quart boxes are closely fitted,and said holders 7, as well as the sheets of cardboard or veneer 9,placed between the cells 8 contained therein, may be formed of rigid oryielding material, according to the purpose for which the package isused. Vhen formed of cardboard or thin veneer, they would give or yieldslightly in order to avoid and completely prevent breaking or injury oftheir contents, and said cell-holders may be ventilated by formingopenings therein or they may be formed air-tight by enveloping them inwaxed paper or other suitable material.

I have found by experiment that the construction herein shown anddescribed gives the best results. At the same time, while I prefer saidconstruction, I do not wish to limit myself to the details thereof, asthey may be modified in various Ways Without departing from the spiritof my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a device of thecharacter described, an outer, inclosingand protecting case, havingaprojecting bottom,and a removable front resting on said projectingbottom, in combination with cell-holders, a folding cover for eachholder, series of cells in each of said holders, and means forseparating one tier of cells from the other, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, an outer, inclosing andprotecting case, having a projecting bottom,and a removable frontresting on said projecting bottom, in combination with cell-holders, afolding cover for each holder, series of cells in each of said holders,and a shallow tray separating one tier of cells from the other,substantially as and for the purposetset forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed in the presence of the twoundersigned Witnesses.

NVILLIAM WILSON.

\Vitnesses:

P. J. EDMUNDS, M. BRAUND.

